"Once the state approved the medical marijuana law last year, people started scoping out cities that had warehouse space," said Pagoda, who heads the subcommittee that proposed a moratorium on such businesses. "And Shelton has warehouse space."

After the law was approved, the state Department of Consumer Protection began compiling nearly 100 pages of regulations concerning the growing and dispensing of medical marijuana. Unsure what the new regulations would include, commission members decided to propose the moratorium on implementing the rules to give them time to review and fully understand them, he said.

While they initially proposed a six-month period, it has since been increased to nine months, Pagoda said.

A public hearing on the proposal will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

"We wanted to have time to look them over and see if there was something in the regulations that we might want to tighten up a bit," Pagoda said. "We want to make sure we do what's best for the town and felt having the moratorium was the way to go."

The Shelton commission also wants time to consider issues that range from zoning the growing facilities for the psychoactive plant to methods of dealing with a controlled substance.

"Would it be light industrial, light manufacturing or agricultural?" Ruth Parkins, commission chairwoman, has asked. "What would the guidelines be on how that (marijuana) would be handled? What about licensing and security measures?"

During that time, the commission "will not accept, process or take any action on any application or petition for any premises within the city" that directly or indirectly involves the distribution and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes.